Web applying and/or affixing machine



May 13, 1941- ML A. voLANTE ETAL 2,241,494

WEB APPLYING AND/OR AFFIXI-NG MACHINE Filed July l2, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l AUN May 13, 1941. M. A. VOLANTE E-rAL 2,241,494

WEB APPLYING AND/OR AFFIXINCT MACHINE i Filed July l2, 1940 4 Sheecs-Sheefkl 2 INVENTORS M. A. VOLANTE ETAL 2,241,494

WEB APPLYING AND/OR AFFIXING MACHINE May 13, 1941.

Filed July l2, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 May 13, 1941.

Filed July 12, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 10 206 Ff?? .914 ??216 nvmons 1, 'Mw a. Mr,

Patented May 13, 1941 y,2,241,494 was APPLYING AND/on AFFIXrNG MACHINE Mario A. Volante, Newton Center, and John G. Vergobhi, Quincy,v Mass.; said Vergobb assigner to said Volante Application July 12, 194i), Serial No'. 345,168

20 claims. (ol. 47`3 This invention relates to a web applying and/or affix-ing machine adapted' among other uses for applying bleaching paper to celery and other crops.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved machine of the character specified in which provision is made for applying the web, such as bleaching paper, on the opposite sides of a row of celery plants or other growing crop and for thereafter automatically placing wire staples over the row to hold the paper rmly in place against the plants.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved machine of the character specied in which provision is made f-or automatic'ally aixing fastening members over a row of celery to which bleaching paper has rbeen applied in a novel, rapid and eflicien't manner.

With these general objects in View and such others asV may hereinafter appear, the invention consists inV the bleaching paper applying and affixing machine, in the alxing machine alone and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly dened in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of theVinven-tion, Fig. `1 is a side elevation of la machine embodying the present invention; -Fi-g. 2 isa front elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1 with the staple magazine and the bleaching paper rolls removed; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the same; Fig, 4 is a plan' View of the bleaching paper applying mechanism; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the `wire staple magazine; Fig. 6 is a partial plan View of the' malgazine; Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views of a traveling gripper jaw unit as viewed from opposite sides; Fig. 7 showing a front elevation of a gripper unit on the further side of the machine as viewed from the line "l-l in Fig. 2, and Fig. 8 is aA similar view showing 'a front elevation of a correspending gripper unit in .a different position of operation as viewed from the line 8--8 in Fig. 2; Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1; and Fig. l0 is a cross-sectional detail taken on the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 1.

In general, the present invention contemplates a novel web .applying and affixing machine comprising lgenerally a frame structure provided with wheels and which, among other uses, is adapted to be propelled over a row of celery or other growing crop to he bleached. vThe unit is arranged to straddle the row-and is preferably provided at its forwardy end with two' rolls of bleaching paper, one upon each side of the row, which are arranged to be unw-ound from the rolls to provide strips of bleaching paper upon the opposite sides of the row as the machine is propelled forward. Provision is also made in the preferred embodiment of the invention for automatically placing wire staples over the bleaching paper thus applied, and in the preferred machine, a magazine is provided adapted to hold a supply of the wire staples. A plurality of traveling gripper jaws are arranged to withdraw the staples from the magazine and to place them in straddling relation over the row of celery and the bleaching paper, as the machine is propelled forwardly over the row, preferably, ibut not necessarily, forcing the ends of the staples into the ground. =The traveling gripper jaws may be mounted upon an endless chain arranged to travel in a downwardly inclined path from the forward portion of the machine toward the rear thereof, and the jaws are designed to hold the wire stap-les in vertical relationship to the ground as they are urged downwardly during the forward movement of the machine by the angular relationship between the inclined chain and the ground.

Provi-sion is preferably made for driving the traveling gripper jaws through the rearwardly inclined path provided therefor at a rate of speed such that the horizontal` `component of such angular movement will be exactly equal to the forward movement of the machine being propelled over the row, so that, in eiie'ct, the wire staple moves only vertically and in a downward direction during the operation of the machine. This relationship is preferably maintained through driving connections from the wheels. Provision is also made for controlling the operation of the jaws to open and close the same at the proper times and the jaws may also `b-e arranged to be moved laterally in an inward direction during the vvir'eV placing operation in order to press each side of the wire staple up close against thebleaching paper to hold it snugly against the row of plants. Referring now to the drawings illustrating the pref-erred embodiment of the invention, the machine comprises, in general, a pair of rectangular side frames or .plates lll, t2 rigidly supported in spaced relation and which are provided with two pairs of wheels I4, l5 arranged to straddle the row of plants over which the machine is propelled. The forward portion of the machine is provided with -a bleaching paper applying device, indicated generally at MIB' which is arranged to place strips 2! of the'bleaching paper again-st the opposite sides of the row 22 of celery or other growing cro-p. The machine is further provided with mechanism for placing wire staples 24 over the strips of bleaching paper and preferably into the ground and suc-h mechanism may include a magazine 26 for holding a supply of the wire staples 24, and a. plurality of traveling gripper jaws 28 arranged to withdraw successive wire staples from the magazine and to insert the ends thereof into the ground Ias the machine progresses over the row.

As herein shown, the wheels i4, I6 are secured to the individual hub members 30 which are arranged to rotate freely upon stu-ds 32 xed in the side plates I0, |2 and extending outwardly therefrom. Collars 34 are provided upon the outer ends of the studs in order to hold the wheels in place. The side plates are rigidly secured together in spaced relation by tie pieces including channel bars 36 adjustably secured to angle memlbers 38 attached to the side plates, las illustratedA in Figs, 1, 2 and 3. Angular tie pieces 49, 42 are provided at the rear of the structure and are arranged in overlapping relation to permit lateral adjustment of the unit. The forward portion of the machine is rigidly secured together by the interposition of the wire staple magazine 26 to which reference will be made.

Referring now -to Figs. 1 and 4, the bleaching paper applying device |18, may comprise a pair of roll carrying units 44, 46 secured to the side plates I0, l2 by angle members 48, 5i) and which are provided with wheels 49, at their forward end. Each roll carrying unit is provided with a spindle 52 which is slightly inclined inwardly and upon which supply rolls 54 of the bleaching paper ar-e rotatably mounted. The disposition. of

Athe supply rolls 54 at a slight incline from a vertical position tends to urge the lower edge of the paper toward the ground and to maintain the edge in this position as the paper is unwound from the rolls during the operation of the machine. Suitable braking means, not shown, may be provided for the supply rolls to prevent the bleaching paper from unwinding too freely, Provision is also made for guiding and yield-ably urging the paper against the opposite sides 4o-f the row of celery as it is unwound from the rolls, and as herein shown, such means may comprise pivotally mounted pressers 56 which are supported upon brackets 58 attached to the angle members 48, 58 and which are rocked in a direction such as to urge the trailing ends ofpressers against the paper and the opposite sides of the celery b springs 69, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, the wire staple magazine 26 is adapted to hold a ybulk supply of the wire staples 24 and to advance them toward the delivery end of the magazine as they are withdrawn therefrom by the gripping jaws 28 so that the foremost wire staple in the magazine is always in a positionto be gripped and withdrawn by a succeeding set of gripping jaws 28 when the latter are brought into gripping position. The magazine is supported between the side plates i0, I2 at the forward end of the machine and between extension plates 62, 64 attached to the side plates l0, |2 respectively. The extension plates 62, 64 are rigidly tied together by overlapping angle brackets 66, 68 which are arranged with slotted portions to permit of lateral adjustment. l

The wire staples are supported in the magazine upon an overhanging unitary structure comprising' a T-bar 10 and a pair of guide b ars 12, 14.

CTI

These members are supported from the rear end of the magazine upon an inverted U-shaped bracket 16, the lower end of which rests upon the tie bracket 66, as shown in Fig. 5. The members 10, 12, 14 are tied together at the forward or delivery end of the magazine by a shortened inverted U-shaped bracket 15. The wire staples are hung upon the overhanging structure with the looped portions thereof resting upon the top of the T-bar and the depending legs thereof resting against the guide bars 12, 14 all disposed within the confines of the open portion of the staples.

Additional guides and retaining members 11, 13, 8U are provided for supporting and guiding the outer portion of the staples. As herein shown, see Figs. 1 and 5, the upper guide member 11 is arranged to prevent vertical displacement of the staples and is supported by angle brackets 82 extending from the side plate I0. The forward end of the guide bar is provided with a hooked portion 84 against which the foremost staple in the stack may rest and which is operative toretain the stack in the, magazine upon pressure from the rear of the stack and to prevent withdrawal of the foremost staple except in a downward direction. The guide members 18, are supported from the'side plates |0, |2 by angle brackets 86, 88 Vand are arranged to cooperate with the inner guide members 12, 14 to prevent lateral displacement and to guide the` staples as they are advanced therethrough as will be described. The members 18, 80 are also provided with hooked retaining portions 90 to prevent withdrawal of the wires 24 from the stack except in a downward direction.

Provision is made for advancing thestack of staples in the magazine as they are successively withdrawn therefrom and to hold the stack in yielding engagement with the retaining portions 84, 90 in order to keep the foremost staple from falling out. As shown in Fig. 1, the foremost staple 24 is projected beyond the inner supporting structure and is held in position to be gripped by the jaws 28`merely by the pressure of the stack against the back of the staple and by the hooked retaining portions 84, 90. As herein shown, a pair of spiral springs 92, 94 are provided at the forwardend of the magazine, each of which is attached to lan engaging member 96, 98 arranged to be hooked over the end of the stack, as shown in Fig. 6. The ,spiral springs 92, 94 which are made up from a flat band or strip of steel similar to a clock motor spring are wound in a manner such as to provide a constant tension upon the engaging members against the back of the stack. As herein shown, the upper spring 92 is supported upon a stud |00, which is mounted between arms |04 attached to the T-bar 10, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. A portion of the T-bar is cut out as indicated at |06 to provide clearance for the upper spring member 92. The lower spring member 94 is supported upon a stud |08 which is mounted between the arms i0 att-ached to and extending from the inverted U-shaped bracket 15, see Figs. 1 and 6. Although as illustrated, both engaging members 96, 98 are in engagement with the back of one stack of wires,

- -inpractica when the supply of staples in one sertedin the magazine so that when the staples being urged forwardly by onel engaging member are depleted, this eng-aging member is drawn back and engaged with a new stack. As illustratedin Fig. 1, a hinged member ||2 pivoted at ||4 which normally rests in the position shown in full lines in* Fig. 1 to serve as an extension of the upper guide 1T, is arranged to Vbe rocked upwardly as shown in dotted lines to permit insertion of additional staples into the magazine. Various arrangements may be provided for feeding the wires into operative position in the magazine to be withdrawn by the gripper jaws, the above being merely illustrativeV ofY one of the preferred forms offeeding devices. For example, the T-bar may be extended horizontally at its' upper end andthe staples, hung onsuch extension, may be fed by gravity intoV the receiving end of the magazine instead ofA placing the bundles in from the top, as above illustrated. Also, the wires may be in a rack and fed cartridge-like into the wire magazine.

Referring now to Figs. '1 and- 9, the traveling gripper jaws 29 are arranged in pairs, one upon each side of the staple, and are arranged so that L,

each jaw will grip one of the two depending legs of the staple. The jaws are carried by two endless chains and suitable guiding and controlling means arranged symmetrically upon either side of the structure, and as each group'of jaws is similar in construction and operation, a description of one will suiiice for both. The endless chain |20 is arranged to run over sprockets |22, |24, one of which, |22, is driven through connections from the rear wheels I6, as will be del' tached to a suitable adapter |30 connected to a link of the chain |20. lProvision is made for guiding the unit including the bearing member |34 and bracket |35 through a fixed and rigid path as it is carried around by the chain, and

as herein shown, each bracket|3t is'provided i with guide rollers |410 arranged to run in tracks or 'gibs U22, |48 disposed symmetrically upon either side of the endless chain. The gibs |42, ille are supported upon the shafts |26, l|30 as clearly shown in Figs. 9 and 10, and each shaft is provided with a collar |46 at its inner end to hold the members in operative relation.

Each gripping jaw unit includes two pairs of jaws arranged to grip the depending l'eg of the staple at spaced points. One of the jaws |48 of each pair is relatively stationary being formed as part of a two-armed member |50 having a central hub |52 extending into the mainbearing |34. The two-armed memberV is xedto a shaft lhaving acylindrical portion |55Lextending through the hub |52 and a squareportion |55 extending through a hub |58 of the operate wtih the relatively stationary jaws H8 to grip the staple and withdraw it fromthe'rnagayzine and to insert the ends" thereof into 'the zine.

eration, as illustrated in Fig. 8.

ground. As herein shown, the movable jaws |60 `are mounted fast upon a shaft |62 journalled in the hubs of the relatively stationary jaws M8 and the shaft |62 is further provided with a cam lever |64 having a roller |56 which is arranged to cooperate with a stationary cam piece |68 mounted adjacent the track, as shown in Figs. '1 and 9. A spring Vi 10 is provided to hold the roller |66 against its cam, and which normally urges the movable jaws into closed position when the roller rides off its stationary cam.

In order to control the jaw carrying unit in a manner such that the upper and lower pairs of jaws will be retained in vertical alignment, provision is made for effecting rotation of the unit as it travels through the inclined path, and asherein illustrated, the outer end of the shaft |54 is provided with a cam lever |12 having a roller |14 arranged to cooperate with a stationary cam piece |16. The cani lever |12 formed integrally with the hub |58 is tted over the square portion |50 of the shaft. The lever is provided with slotted portions |18 and is attached to a flanged portion of the main bearing |34 by screws |82 in a manner such as to permit relative rotation, as dened by the limits of the slotted portions |18.

From the description thus far it will be observed that when the gripping jaw unit arrives at a` position in front of the wire staple magazine, as shown in Fig. 7, thev movable jaws will be caused to close upon the foremost staple, and to pull the staple downwardly out of the maga- It will also be observed that the stationary cam |16 is designed to hold the unit in an angular position during the withdrawal movement, and thereafter, when the staple has been advanced beyond the inuence of the magazine, the jaw unit is rotated to dispose the staple in a vertical position and this reiationship is maintained during the wire placing or inserting op- As therein shown, a spring |843 is provided to hold the roller |14 against its cam piece |16. The cam piece |16 is supported at its forward end from the side plate by a bolt and spacing members |98, as shown in Fig. 9, and may be similarly supported at its other end by an extension |89, as shown in Fig. l.

Provision is made in the preferred embodiment of the invention for projecting the gripping jaw unit inwardly, against the sides of the row of celery in order to place the depending legs of the staples snugly against the bleaching paper. As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 9, the outer end of the square portion |56 of the shaft |54 is provided with a shouldered or groovedV portion arranged to be engaged by a latch member |92 to normally lock the unit in the position shown in Fig. 9. The latch is pivoted at |94 in the cam lever |12 and is provided with a spring |96 to hold the latch in place in the grooved portion |90. Thus each set of jaws is held in a position to grasp the depending legs of the wire `to withdraw it from the magazine.

Y When the unit arrives at a predetermined position,

and at about the time when the ends of the wires contact with the ground, the latch is arranged to be withdrawn to permit the unit to beV projected inwardly as described. The latch |92 is provided with a trip lever |99 which is arranged to engage a tripping member 200 mounted upon an extension 202 from the side plate as shown invFig. 1. f Upon engagement with the tripping member 200, the shaft |54 and the gripping unit is projected inwardly by acoil spring 234 which is interposed between the hubs |52 and |58. The spring 264 is of suflicient resiliency to urge the wires close against the bleaching paper and is arranged to be stopped in its inward movement by the resistance of the paper and the plants. The shaft is held from being withdrawn entirely from the unit by a limiting pin 206 fixed in the shaft which extends into a slot 208 provided in the hub |58. In the operation of the machine, the unit is maintained in its inwardly projected position during vthe remainder of the wire inserting operation. Provision is made for resetting the unit into its latched position during the travel of the jaws through the upper or return path of the unit, and for this purpose a roller 2|0, provided upon the movable jaw shaft |62, is arranged to cooperate with a stationary cam piece 2|2 mounted upon a bracket 2|3 supported from the tie piece 40, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Provision is also made for opening the gripper jaws when the wire staple is inserted to the desired depth, and as shown in Fig. 1, a stationary cam piece 2|4, similar to the cam piece |58, is

provided adjacent the gibs at the lower end of the unit. After leaving the cam piece 2|4, the jaws will be closed and will remain in their closed position until they are again opened by the cani piece |68 when they arrive at the magazine to withdraw a succeeding wire staple, as hereinbefore described. Although the wires are preferably extended into the ground, it will be apparent that the object of the invention may ralso be attained by merely extending the ends of the wires to the ground and then bending the legs inwardly as above described.

4As above stated, the traveling gripper` jaws 28 are arranged to be driven through connections from the rear wheels I6 of the structure, and as herein shown,l see Figs. l, 2 and 3, the hub 3U of each rear wheel I6 is provided with a sprocket 2|6 fast thereon which is connected by a chain 2|8 to a sprocket 220 fast on the outer end of the shaft |26. Each chain 2|8 is arranged to run over an idler sprocket 222 mounted upon an intermediate shaft 224 which is supported in bearings 226 attached to the side plates l2, as shown in Fig. 3. The idler sprockets 222 are held fast upon the shaft 224 by keys 228 which are arranged to slide in elongated key slots 23|) to provide for lateral adjustment of the side plates. Thus, the two separately driven-traveling gripper units are tied together through the common intermediate shaft 224 so that after they have been initially adjusted to operate in unison they will be retained in such operative relation.

In order to provide sufficient traction against the ground, the wheels may be provided with traction blades or spikes, as indicated at 232. In some instances, it may be desired to provide a caterpillar drive, between the forward and rear wheels. Although the structure is arranged to be propelled manually or towed by a tractor, provision maybe made for driving the unit by any usual or preferred form of motive power, such as a gasoline powered engine, indicated by dotted lines at 234. When s uch auxiliary power plant is employed, it may be connected by a belt or chain drive 236 to the intermediate shaft 224.

In the operation of the machine, when the portable structure is propelled over the row of growing plants, the strips of bleaching paper are unwound from the rolls thereof,l hlaving been initially secured together around the end of the row as indicated at 238 in Fig. 4. The rotation ofthe rear wheels I6, as the machine progresses over the row, operates to drive the traveling gripper jaws 28, as above described, and when a set of gripping jaws arrives into operative position with relation to the magazine, the foremost staple is gripped and removed from the magazine, whereupon the stack of staples in the magazine is-advanced to present a succeeding staple in position to be removed by the succeeding set of gripper jaws. As the traveling gripper unit is moved through the inclined path, it is-held .in a vertical position by the cooperation of the stationary cam |16 and roller |14 so as to hold the wire staple vertically with relation to the ground during their travel. Thereafter, the latch mechanism |92 is tripped to project the jaw units laterally against the opposite sides of the row and against the bleaching paper. The driving mechanism between the rear wheels and the traveling jaw mechanism are so designed as to cause the jaws to be carried down the rearwardly inclined path at a rate of speed such that the horizontal component of such angular movement will be exactly equal to the forward motion of the structure passing over the row, so that the resultant motion will be entirely vertical when the ends of the staples are being inserted into the ground and with no lateral movement whatever with relation to the ground. As the jaws travel downwardly, the staples are forced into the ground in a vertical position. When the staples have been inserted into the ground to the desired depth, the jaws are released, whereupon they are reset and returned to pick up another wire staple.

From the above description it will be observed that the present bleaching paper applying and ailxing machine is adapted to be adjusted laterally in order to accommodate different widths of rows. The present machine may also be adapted to insert the staples at various depths or merely to the ground surface by arranging the staple magazine with relation to the gripper unit so that the staples may be gripped at different heights. Thus, when the staples are gripped at a relatively high point, they will be caused to enter the ground earlier than when gripped at a lower point, and consequently, they will be inserted deeper into the ground. Likewise, the depth may be regulated by changing the position of the jaw releasing cam 2|4, so that when the staples are inserted to the desired depth, the jaws will release their grasp upon the wires and prevent further downward action. Furthermore, the unit may be provided with a greater or lesser number of sets of jaws, spaced closer togetheror farther apart, in order to vary the spacing between the staples along the row. As illustrated in Fig. 10, provision is made for adjusting the lower bearing |32 longitudinally by the provision of a slotted portion 240. Such adjustment may be utilized in order to bring the lower end of the unit closer to the ground to enable the staples to be planted deeper, or the adjustment may be used to accommodate different lengths of chain upon w-hich the jaws are arranged in different spaced relation. In any event, the adjustment provided for the lower bearing |32 tends to keep the chain |20 taut between the sprockets |22, |24.

While the machine is particularly adapted for `use in the application of bleaching paper strips to celery, it will be understood that it may be 4used `for applying any desired web or webbing strips to any rows of growing plants. It `will also be understood Vthat the device may be used independently as an aixing unit to place the wires over a row which has been previously provided with strips of bleaching paper.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a portable unit adapted to be propelled over a row of growing plants, means carried by said unit for applying webs upon opposite sides of the plants as the unit is propelled forwardly, and means also carried by said unit for automatically` applying retaining members upon the opposite `sides of said row adjacent said webs.

2. In a machine of -the character described, in combination, a portable unit provided with wheels adapted to straddle a row of growing plants, a pairv of rolls of webbing mounted upon the for- Ward portion of said unit and arranged to be unwound to apply webs upon opposite sides of the plants as the machine is propelled forwardly, and means carried by said unit operative to apply retaining members adjacent said applied webs at spaced intervals along the row.

3. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a portable unit provided with wheels adapted to straddle a row of growing plants, means carried by said unit for applying webbing strips upon opposite sides of the plants as the unit is propelled forwardly, means for pressing said strips into contiguous engagement with the opposite sides of said plants, and means also carried by said unit for applying retaining members adjacent said webbing strips at spaced intervals along said row during the forward movement of said unit, whereby to retain said strips in contiguous engagement with said plants.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination with means for applying strips of paper upon opposite sides of a row of growing plants, of means for applying paper retaining members adjacent said strips at spaced intervals along said row during the forward movement of the machine. Y

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with portable means for applying webbing strips upon the opposite sides of a row of growing plants, of means for applying wire staples adjacent said strips at spaced intervals along said row.

6. In a machine `of the character described, the combination with portable means for applying webbing strips upon the opposite sides of a row of growing plants, of means for applying wire staples adjacent said strips at spaced intervals along said row, said means comprising a traveling carrier chain having a plurality of movable jaws thereon adapted to grasp said staples and to insert the ends thereof into the ground.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination with portable means for applying webbing strips upon the opposite sides of a row of growing plants, of means for applying wire staples adjacent said strips at spaced intervals along said row, said means comprising a traveling carrier chain havinga plurality of movable jaws thereon adapted toV grasp said staples and to insert the ends thereof intorthe ground, said carrier chain being arranged to move said jaws through a downwardly inclined path toward the rear of the machine, and means for retaining said jaws in a Vertical position with respect to the ground as they travel through said inclined path.

8. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a portable unit provided with wheels and being adapted to straddle a row of growing plants, a pair of rolls of webbing` mounted upon the forward portion of said unit and arranged to be unwound to apply strips upon opposed sides of the plants as the machine is propelled forwardly, and means carried by said unit for automatically inserting Wire staples over said row and into the ground.

9. In amachine of the character described, in combination, a portable unit adapted to straddle a row of growing plants, a chain mounted on said unit and angularly arranged with respect to the ground, a plurality of gripper jaws carried by said chain, a magazine adapted to hold a plurality of wire retaining members, jaw operating means for successively withdrawing said members from the magazine, and means for holding said jaws in a vertical position with respect to the ground as they are carried through said angular path, said chain being adapted to travel through said angular path at a rate of speed such that the horizontal component of such angular movement will be substantially equal to the forward movement of the machine.

10. A machine of the character described comprising a portable unit provided with wheels adapted to be propelled over a row of growing plants to which bleaching or other webs have been previously applied, and means carried by said unit for automatically applying retaining members upon the opposite sides of said row adjacent said webs at spaced intervals along the row during the forward movement of said unit, whereby to retain said webs in contiguous engagement with said plants.

l1. A machine of thecharacter described comprising a portable unit adapted to be propelled along the row, said means including an endless traveling carrier chain having a plurality of movable jaws thereon adapted to grasp said staples and to place them in operative position against said webs to retain the latter in contiguous engagement with said plants.

12. A machine of the character described comprising a portable vunit adapted to be propelled over a row of growing plants to which bleaching or other webs have previously been applied, and means carried by said unit for applying wire staples adjacent said webs at spaced intervals alongithe row, said means including an endless traveling carrier chain having a plurality of movable jaws thereon adapted to grasp said staples and to place them in operative position against said webs to retain the latter in corY tiguous engagement with said plants, said carrier chain being arranged to travel in a downwardly inclined path toward the rear of the machine,

' and means for retaining said jaws in a vertical position with respectto the ground as they travel through said inclined path.

13. A machine of the character described comprising a portable unit adapted to be propelled over a row of growing plants to which bleaching or other webs have previously been applied, and means carried by said unit for applying wire staples adjacent said webs at spaced intervals along the row, said means including an endless traveling carrier chain having a plurality of movable jaws thereon adapted to grasp said staples and to place them in operative position against said webs to retain the latter in contiguous engagement with said plants, said carrier chain beingfarranged to travel in a downwardly inclined path toward the rear of the machine, and means for retaining said jaws in a vertical position with respect to the ground as they travel through said inclined path, said chain being arranged to travel throughsaid rearwardly inclined path at a rate of speed such that the horizontal com ponent of such angular movement will be equal to the forward movement of the machine being propelled over the row.

14. In a machine of the character described, the combination with portable means for applying webbing strips upon the opposite sides of a row of growing plants, of means for applying wire staples at spaced intervals along said row, including a movable wire holding member, and means for guiding said holding ,member through a downwardly and rearwardly inclined path, said holding member being adapted to hold said wire in a vertical position with relation to the ground while traveling through said inclined path, said holding member being arranged to travel through said rearwardly inclined path at a rate of speed such that the horizontal component of such angular movement will be equal to the forward movement of the machine being propelled over the row.

15. A portable unit adapted to be propelled over a row of growing plants to which bleaching or other webs have been previously applied comprising mechanism for placing retaining members over said row including a movable holder arranged to hold a retaining member in a vertisuch that the horizontal component of such angular movement will be equal to the forward movement of the machine being propelled over the row.

1'7. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a portable unit provided with wheels adapted to straddle a row of growing plants, means carried by said unit for applying Y bleaching or other strips upon opposite sides of cal position, means for moving said holder downwardly to place the retaining member over the row, and means for moving said holder rearwardly at a rate of speed equal to the forward movement of the unit whereby to ho-ld said re taining member relatively stationary in a lateral direction while it is moving vertically downward.

16. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a portable unit provided with wheels adapted to straddle a row of growing plants, means carried by said unit for applying bleaching or other strips upon opposite sides of the plants as the unit is propelled forwardly, and means also carried by said unit for applying retaining members adjacent said bleaching strips at spaced intervals along the row during the forward movement of said unit, said last named means including a traveling carrier chain having a plurality of gripper jaws mounted thereon, said carrier chain being arranged to move said jaws through a downwardly inclined path toward the rear of the machine, Va magazine adapted to hold a plurality of wire retaining members, means for advancing said wire retaining-members in the magazine to vpresent the foremost wire 'into operative relation to said jaws, means for operating said jaws to grasp and withdraw successive wires `from the magazine, and means for retaining said jaws in a vertical position with respect to the ground as they travel through said inclined path, said chain being arranged to travel through said rearwardly inclined path at a rate of speed the plants as the unit is propelled forwardly, and means also carried by said unit for applying retaining members adjacent said bleaching strips at spaced intervals along the row during the forward movement of said unit, said last named means including a traveling carrier chain having a plurality of gripper jaws mounted thereon, said carrier chain being arranged to move said jaws through a downwardly inclined path toward the rear of the machine, a magazine adapted to hold a plurality of wire retaining members, means for advancing said wire retaining members in the magazine to present the foremost wire into operative relation to said jaws, means for operating said jaws to grasp and withdraw successive wires from the magazine, and means for retaining said jaws in a vertical position with respect to the ground as they travel through said inclined path, said chain being arranged to travel through said rearwardly inclined path at a rate of speed nsuch that the horizontal component of suchangular movement will be equal to the forward movement of the machine being -propelled over the row, and means operatively connected to said wheels for driving said chain in timed relation to the forward movement oi the unit to produce such relative movement.

18. A machine of the character described comprising a portable unit adapted to be propelled over a row of growing plants to which bleaching or other webs have previously been applied, and means carried by said unit for applying wire staples adjacent said webs at spaced intervals along the row, said means comprising a pair of opposed endless traveling carrier chains having a plurality of movable jaws thereon, opposing jaws forming pairs arranged to grasp both legs of a staple and'to place it in operative position against said webs to retain the latter in contiguous engagement with said plants.

19. A machine of the character described comprising a portable unit adapted to be propelled over a row of growing plants to which bleaching or other webs have previously been applied, and

vmeans carried by said unit for applying wire staples adjacent said webs at spaced intervals along the row, said means comprising a pair of opposed endless traveling carrier chains having a plurality of movable jaws thereon, opposing jaws K forming pairs arranged to grasp both legs of a row of growing plants, of means for applying wire staples at spaced intervals along said row including a pair of opposed traveling carrier chains having a plurality of movable jaws thereon, op-

posing jaws forming pairs arranged to grasp.

opposing legs of a staple and to place it in operative position against said webs to retain the lat- 5 propelled over the row.

in unison through said rearwardly inclined path at a rate of speed such that the horizontal component of such angular movement will be equal to the forward movement of the machine being MARIO A. VOLANTE. JOHN G. VERGOBBI. 

